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Date	Title	Body
8 weeks 6 days ago	Brady Hoke was the author of the Brady Hoke swan song	Brady Hoke had years to recruit and develop a QB.  He didn't.  He took Bellomy in 2011, didn't take a QB at all in 2012 (!), took Shane Morris in 2013, and Speight in 2014.  The chasm at QB that Hoke has left his successor is worse than anything that RR left Hoke.  Also, recall that it was not always a given that Gardner would even get the medical redshirt and play in 2014.  Imagine Michigan's 2014 campaign without him.  Failing to secure and develop quality QB recruits was not only a significant reason why Hoke failed at Michigan, but will have negative effects on our team for at least another year or two.
9 weeks 3 days ago	Same program for all position groups	It would seem fairly obvious that such an approach is suboptimal.  Not surprising, given the previous regime's defense of a suboptimal punting strategy (we are comfortable with it -- it's the way we've always done it), but disappointing.  Given Michigan's resources, why wouldn't you tailor the program to the position group and individual athlete?
12 weeks 2 days ago	Improving your chances	It's not that a modern offense is needed to win; it's that modern offenses improve your chances of winning, all other things being equal.  Furthermore, we do not have the talent of Alabama, do not oversign, do not cut (medical redshirt) players, etc.  Moreover, even Alabama this year has gone no-huddle, uptempo.  I haven't watched them much, but I saw Alabama's QB score a touchdown on a read-option.  Straight-up, RR WVU read option.  I couldn't believe my eyes.  What has Saban been complaining about the last couple years?  Very fast, no-huddle teams.  It puts the defense at a disadvantage.  Who have they lost to?  Auburn, Texas A&M.
12 weeks 3 days ago	1950s? Try 1990s	His last three years brought him back down exactly to .500, but for his first 10 years, Jackie Sherrill had nearly the same success Mullen has had for his first six years at MSU (although Sherill actually won his division once).   Mississippi State Bulldogs (Southeastern Conference) (1991–2003) 1991 Mississippi State 7–5 4–3 T–4th L Liberty     1992 Mississippi State 7–5 4–4 3rd (West) L Peach   23 1993 Mississippi State 4–5–2 3–4–1 4th (West)       1994 Mississippi State 8–4 5–3 2nd (West) L Peach 25 24 1995 Mississippi State 3–8 1–7 4th (West)       1996 Mississippi State 5–6 3–5 4th (West)       1997 Mississippi State 7–4 4–4 T–3rd (West)       1998 Mississippi State 8–5 6–2 1st (West) L Cotton     1999 Mississippi State 10–2 6–2 2nd (West) W Peach 12 13 2000 Mississippi State 8–4 4–4 T–3rd (West) W Independence 22 24
13 weeks 3 hours ago	Stanford and Shaw	Harbaugh had one year at Stanford with double-digit wins -- 2010 (12-1).  In 2009, they were 8-5. Since then, Shaw has gone 11-2, 12-2, and 11-3 prior to this year.  That's not much of a regression.  And that 11-3 season last year (6 pt loss at Utah, 3 pt loss at USC, and 4 pt loss to Michigan State in the Rose Bowl) and the 12-2 season the year prior (4 pt loss at Washington and 7 point overtime loss at Notre Dame) were without Andrew Luck.
13 weeks 4 hours ago	Texas	I believe it was more than a rumor.  I believe there is an article describing all of the things Texas put on the table trying to land him, including flying out relatives from CA to every home game in Texas on a private plane.  If he was motivated by the financials, he had that opportunity last year.
13 weeks 10 hours ago	Al Golden	Don't even joke about that.
13 weeks 10 hours ago	"Turned around"	Each of Hoke's first four years at Ball State was worse than each of his predecessor's final three years.  Hoke's fifth year was half a game better.  That is not a turnaround by my definition.  2000 5-6 (Lynch) 2001 5-6 (Lynch) 2002 6-6 (Lynch) 2003 4-8 (Hoke) 2004 2-9 (Hoke) 2005 4-7 (Hoke) 2006 5-7 (Hoke) 2007 7-6 (Hoke) 2008 12-1 (Hoke) 2009 2-10 (post-Hoke) He had one very good year at Ball State with a bunch of seniors and folks who ended up in the NFL.  Everyone can get lucky occasionally with a loaded roster or exceptional talent.  (That team (ranked) lost to Gil Turner's unranked Buffalo team.  Gil Turner is also not a great football coach.)  The next year, without those seniors, they were a 2-10 team.  No foundation laid for the future.
13 weeks 6 days ago	Hoke's BSU teams	Actually, each of the first four yeas, his BSU team's record was worse than each of the three years immediately preceding his tenure.  Hoke had one very good season at BSU and one at SDSU (in eight years as a head coach).  He also had a sub-.500 career record, and no track record of success as a coordinator.
13 weeks 6 days ago	Timeouts	Thought the same thing. According the box score, it looks like ASU took its last timeout on the down where Arizona had the personal foul. Would the penalty have stopped the clock regardless? Or would the clock have resumed after the 15 yard walk off?
13 weeks 6 days ago	Very difficult	I'll be rooting for Arizona (if they make it -- this Arizona/ASU game is by no means over), but beating Oregon again will be very difficult. Pulling the upset against the same team twice in a season is exceptionally difficult.
13 weeks 6 days ago	RR v Oregon	True, but Arizona beat Oregon last year as well, and it wasn't close.
13 weeks 6 days ago	RR	Looking back at 2010, with a true sophomore QB, we put 28 points against a #15 ranked Iowa, 17 points against a #17 ranked MSU, 28 points on the road against a #22 ranked Notre Dame. The narrative regarding RR's offense here by some (e.g., the "atrocious" crowd) approaches the myth of the "turnaround" at Ball State (where each of Hoke's first four years was worse than each of the last three years of his predecessor). D under RR here was atrocious. But look what he's doing at Arizona with a little bit of institutional support and a few dollars to hire a DC. Arizona's defensive FEI is higher than ours this year (#33 versus #40).
14 weeks 4 days ago	Time of possession	Utah beat Arizona in time of possession by five minutes. Despite this, Arizona, using its backup QB for the second half, beat Utah on the road by over 30 points. (Another road win over a top 20 team.) Hooray Neanderthal football!
17 weeks 6 days ago	Candidates	People should read the very informative posts that Mr. Yost made a few weeks back about the three names being thrown around at that time (Bates, Manuel, Long).  He is in athletic administration.  They are the best insights we are likely to get. As I previously posted, I know a Miami (OH) alum who thinks Bates is a very good guy, very focused on academics, but wrecked the football and basketball programs at Miami.  One person's opinion (and an opinion I have not been able to discuss with him).
18 weeks 2 days ago	"Nonsense" -- another Brandon favorite	In early December 2010, I voiced my concerns to Dave Brandon about the rumor that UM might be considering hiring Hoke (as opposed to the two prevalent options being discussed at that point publicly -- keep RR for another year or bring in Harbaugh).  Part of his response: "I have no idea where this nonsense comes from…but please don’t spend valuable time believing any of it!  It just causes you worry and aggravation!!" Perhaps nonsense is one of his favorite deflecting words that he uses to describe something that is actually true.
18 weeks 5 days ago	Second comment	I hope Hoke told Dantonio that he wouldn't be back, but Michigan would be.
18 weeks 5 days ago	Our identity	Looks like we found it.
19 weeks 9 hours ago	Two points	1)  Each of Hoke's first four years at Ball State was worse than each of the last three years of his predecessor (Bill Lynch).  Even his fifth year was only half a game better.  Making something worse for four years is not a turnaround.  One good season (in his sixth year) in not a turnaround.  The next year he capitalized on a very fortunate position with Nate Davis as his QB and 3 senior linemen who were starters all four years and ended up in the NFL.  After parlaying his good fortune into the SDSU job, the next year Ball State won 2 games.  (And they won 4 the year after.)  A program turned around could sustain success.  See, e.g., Stanford and Harbaugh.  Hoke had one very fortunate year. 2)  Football coaches are graded on a curve.  Your point echoes that of Dantonio when asked about Hoke: "I think, basically what I'm trying to say is, I don't think there's a bad football coach out there."  As a football coach, however, he is not being judged against a postal worker or a tv repairman who does not have the basic football knowledge and experience to run a DI program.  He is paid $4 million a year and he is being judged against 100+ DI FBS coaches (and a small number of smaller division coaches that will make a leap).  In that context, not every coach can be good.  There are better and worse coaches.  Not every child can be above average.  Among DI coaches, Hoke has never been elite.  He does not have much sustained success suggesting that he is very good.
19 weeks 5 days ago	Alabama and the read option	I just saw Alabama's QB run a successful read option for a TD.  Alabama.  Even the most pro-style, most heavily advantaged (through recruiting and roster culling) team has realized that using the QB as a runner can provide benefits, and that doing so is not an offense to their football tradition.  Maybe Brandon can use his millions to buy his fellow Luddites who want to pretend that the sport has not advanced the past 20-40 years Edsels (the cars, not Randy) and Encyclopedia Britannicas.
20 weeks 1 day ago	Bates' track record	I know a Miami grad who claims that Bates is a great guy, very focused on academics, but basically cratered their football and basketball programs.  I wish others familiar with Bates' tenure at Miami (Ohio) would chime in.
21 weeks 13 hours ago	2008 Wisconsin game	Last time we beat a top-10 opponent, I believe.
21 weeks 13 hours ago	QB recruiting	2010 recruiting class had Scout 5 star Devin Gardner.  Even putting aside the 2011 "Process" recruiting class (Bellomy), we took no QB in 2012.  That decision is one of the ones that has and will continue to hurt us the most.
21 weeks 6 days ago	Why he hired Gerg	He was given very little money for a DC, and had little assurances for thr future, so the DC was coming into a situation that might only last a short period.  With these restrictions, you get guys like Gerg.
21 weeks 6 days ago	Film sessions with Brandon	They occurred when RR was coach here; he did not like them. If a genius had to waste time with an officious, useless administrator "participating," he would not like it.  We haven't heard anything about Hoke complaining about the movie sessions with Dave.
21 weeks 6 days ago	Lord Grantham	Didn't he explain to us that it would be 62-24 Oregon, because RR teams can't play defense? Head must be exploding, since a road team in the third year under a head coach with a freshman QB and RB is beating the #2 game in the country.  Oh, and that coach is RR.
22 weeks 3 days ago	Brad Bates	For what it's worth, a Miami alum tells me that while Bates is a very nice human being and loves academics, he "literally destroyed our football and basketball programs."  One person's opinion, but we might want to have others with connections to Miami (or BC) weigh in before we crown this as a can't-miss hire.
22 weeks 5 days ago	Ferrigno	Hoke hired him from a high school to SDSU.  I am not making that up.  He also coaches TE.  Wonder why they can't block.
22 weeks 5 days ago	Best OL	Best OL is one who hasn't been ruined by Funk.
22 weeks 5 days ago	So is Hoke	He's a good man.  He's graduating players.  There's more to life than winning (especially when you're not good at it).

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